Is French rural society recomposing itself? Diversification and social fragmentation

Since the 1970s, the French countryside has undergone profound social changes. The decline of the agricultural sector and the arrival of new populations have radically altered the social composition of rural areas. However, Bernard Kayser demonstrated as early as the 1990s that there are significant differences depending on proximity to towns and the size of the local and regional rural community. These dynamics contribute to the diversification of rural societies, but they also give rise to contrasting developments across different regions. Whilst some areas are undergoing gentrification, others are experiencing an ageing population and increasing precariousness. Does the social restructuring of the countryside therefore reflect an inclusive diversification of populations or a growing socio-spatial fragmentation of rural areas?